78087 - "History of Colonialism (1)"

Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing an understanding of the colonial world, through an analysis of both  European political and economic expansion and the reactions of colonized societies. Through the analysis of various thematic issues, such as race, gender, culture, medicine, environment, languages, migrations, political systems, economic institutions, the student will be able to reconstruct the history of European colonialism as a process of continuos interaction and negotiation between the colonizer and the colonized. At the end of course, the student will be aware of the main historiographical debates on European colonialism and the colonial encounter.

Course contents

Readings/Bibliography

Students non attending the classes will read three books:

a) W. Reinhard, Storia del Colonialismo, Einaudi, 2002
AND
b) R. Betts, L'alba illusoria. L'imperialismo europeo nell'Ottocento, Il Mulino, 2007

AND
One text among the following:
G. Calchi Novati, L'Africa d'Italia. Una storia coloniale e postcoloniale, Carocci, 2011.
A. Césaire, Discorso sul colonialismo. Seguito da Discorso sulla negritudine, Ombre Corte, 2010
F. Fanon, I Dannati della terra, Einaudi, 2007.
D.R. Headrick, Al servizio dell'impero: tecnologia e imperialismo europeo nell'Ottocento, Il Mulino, 1984.
D.R. Headrick, Il predominio dell'Occidente. Tecnologia, ambiente e imperialismo, Il Mulino, 2011.
C. Prudhomme, Missioni cristiane e colonialismo, Jaca Book, 2007.

Students attending the classes will read W. Reinhard, Storia del Colonialismo, Einaudi, 2002 OR R. Betts, L'alba illusoria. L'imperialismo europeo nell'Ottocento, Il Mulino, 2007 and one of the texts under c), for a total of two books. If you prefer a reading list in English (most of the titles are also available in English) you can contact prof. Pallaver by email.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

During the oral exam you will be asked three questions: one on point a) of the reading list , one on point b) and one on the book you have chosen from pthose listed under c). For those students attending the classes the first question will be on the themes and issues discussed during the course. During the exam, you will have to show that you are familiar with the chronology of European colonialism, and be able to discuss its origins, development and impact. You also have to be able to discuss the reactions and resistance of colonized societies. To obtain a positive evaluation, you have to show that you are able to discuss methodological problems and use an appropriate terminology.  You have to read all the books assigned. If the reading list is not clear enough or you have problems in finding the texts, please contact Prof. Pallaver by e-mail.You can also ask for a reading list in English.

Teaching tools

We will use power point slides with images and maps, as well as various examples of archival documents and historical sources

Office hours

See the website of Karin Pallaver